By Martin Banks - 12th May 2011
We will nominate another replacement
ALDE source
German ALDE MEP Silvana Koch-Mehrin has resigned as one of parliament's 14 vice-presidents amid claims she plagiarised her university thesis.
The decision opens the way for a potential clash with the centre-right ECR group which, some say, may put forward controversial Polish MEP Michal Kaminski as its candidate for the vice presidency.
However, an ECR spokesman stressed that no decision on the matter had been made yet.
He said, "The group has taken no decision nor had the opportunity tohave a discussion at group level regarding the vice presidency vacancy."
Kaminski was famously thwarted in his attempt to become a vice-president after the last European elections when his then party colleague, Edward McMillan-Scott defied party policy and stood against him.
McMillan-Scott was later re-elected as a vice president while the defeated Kaminski went on to become leader of the ECR group.
In the meantime, Kaminski has formed a new political party in Warsaw, accusing his former colleagues in PiS of being homophobic and racist.
Koch-Mehrin announced on Wednesday she would also stand down as leader of the Free Democrat (FDP) delegation in parliament and as a member of the executive board of the FDP in Germany.
She will remain as an MEP.
She has refuted the allegations but Heidelberg University which awarded her doctorate in Latin monetary union, which existed from 1865 to 1927, said it has launched an investigation.
The scandal follows the resignation of former German defence minister Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg on similar accusations.
That scandal prompted a group of anonymous internet activists to examine the academic work of leading politicians.
In a statement, Koch-Mehrin said, "I hope to make it easier for my party to make a fresh start with a new leadership team."
Critics have said supervision of doctoral studies in Germany is lax.
A parliament spokesman explained the procedure for electing her replacement as vice president.
He said, "There does need to be an election, normally at the next session.
"It is often the case that only the group of the outgoing vice president puts up a candidate, but there is nothing in the rules to say it has to happen like this."
Some parliamentary insiders, however, said the assembly now finds itself in "uncharted territory".
One source said, "Vice-presidents are elected for two and a half years. Normally, the German ALDE delegation would nominate someone to take the post, this would be endorsed by the group and then by parliament."
An ALDE source said, "ALDE considers that Silvana's vice-presidency post belongs to the group. We will nominate another replacement.
"We inherited the additional post when Edward McMillan-Scott changed political groups (joining ALDE from the Conservatives). The plenary will need to confirm this at its June session.
"I believe ECR may contest that decision but will probably have to propose a candidate other than Kaminski."
